MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine war dead receive long standing Memorial.

Twenty two years ago, on 2 April 1982, during a Military assignment code-named 'Operacion Azul' (Operation Blue) special Argentine Forces captured the Falkland Islands. Ten weeks later more than 700 Argentine servicemen were dead as Britain recovered the Islands, losing 255 men in the process.

Just outside Darwin, scene of the one of the most bitter battles of the War, the bodies of 234 Argentine Servicemen are buried in a Cemetery, but according to the War Veterans Association, the name Cemetery will soon be replaced by Memorial as newly installed units near completion. The names of all Argentines who died in action have been inscribed on huge glass plaques which adorn the pre-cast units. According to AWG's Regional Manager Ken McKenzie, the company who has undertaken the project, 'It is the wish of the relatives that in future this will be a Memorial to those who died, and no longer a Cemetery'.

The thin wooden cross which has stood the test of time over the last 22 years, and at which many Masses have taken place, has been replaced by a more grand and larger edition, but at the wishes of the Islanders it cannot be higher than its predecessor.

The construction of the new Memorial still has 2 weeks of work before completion, but already the simple but poignant wooden crosses which headed every grave has been removed and a larger stone replacement has been sited.

The small rectangular brass name plates, installed by the British are gone and in their place in front of the crosses, a large marble plaque sits on the gravel graves, bearing the name of the 1982 War hero. However, the names of 127 of the 234 Argentines buried in the Cemetery are unknown. Previously written in English were the words, 'An Argentine soldier, known unto God'. Now the inscription reads in Spanish, 'Soldado Argentino Solo Concocido Por Dios'.

Bill Brown - MercoPress ? Falkland Islands.